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#1 Apr 19 2004 at 11:46 AM Rating: Decent
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Although it is neither sci-fi nor fantasy, I decided to add a little blurb about George MacDonald Fraser's Flashmanhere.

The title character, Harry Flashman, is not your typical hero. He's a coward, racist, rapist, and opportunist of the worst sort, and preserving his own skin is always first and foremost in his mind. The first of the Flashman books was published in 1969, before the political correctness had wormed its way into every facet of our lives. Harry Flashman is refreshingly despicable in many ways, but very amusing as well.

The first book is starts out in 1839 England and covers the early years of Harry's military career as he travels to India. If you like Kipling, you'll probably get a kick out of Flashman as well. Loads of fun.

#2 Apr 20 2004 at 1:25 PM Rating: Decent
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Sounds a bit like 'The chronicals of Thomas Covenant' by S. Donaldson.

If there was ever a set of book where the hero most certainly isn't that the set. I found them Increadibly hard to read but utterly worthwhile after the event.

but i would never put myself through it again /wink.
#3 Apr 23 2004 at 2:00 PM Rating: Decent
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Quote:
Sounds a bit like 'The chronicals of Thomas Covenant' by S. Donaldson.


No, not at all. Despite his numerous and admitted flaws, the reader tends to like Flashman. He never pretends to be anything other than the scoundrel and coward he is (at least not to the reader).

Thomas Covenant was annoyingly whiney. Even worse than Covenant was one of his companions in the later books - I think she was an earth woman, can't remember her name, but she could see or feel the 'sickness' of the earth all around her, and never, ever shut up about how unpleasant it was to her. I prayed and prayed that someone would strangle her.

Edited, Fri Apr 23 15:01:30 2004 by Deathwysh
#4 May 20 2004 at 1:07 AM Rating: Decent
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The most remarkable things about Thomas Covenant were his bitterness, selfishness and self pity. Take those characteristics away and what's left? He wasn't noble, witty, charming, particularly intelligent or heroic.

It's been a long time since I read those books, but if I remember correctly he complained loudly and often whenever anything was demanded of him. I think when I read those books was when I learned the term "anti-hero".
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